Subject(s): panchayat raj System in kerala -- Regional imbalance- Theoretical underpinnings and empirical evidence : Inter regional convergence hypothesis, Central place theory, New industrial economics, Marxist theory, Regional imbalance and development plans , Brief history of various falgship programmes, Small farmers development agency (SFDA), Agency for the development of marginal farmers and agricultural labourers (MFAL), Drought prone area programme, Crash scheme for rural employment, Employment guarantee scheme, Food for work, Operation Barga- West Bengal governmental initiatives -- BRGF and Kerala :palakkad, Wayanad, -- Bridging developmental gaps, Allocation and utilization of funds, Project proposal and utilisation problems, Per capita allocation, Vertical allocation I.E across the tiers of PRIs, Horizontal allocation, Intra district allocation, Kudubasree, KSEB, Educational debt -- Strengthening local bodies in Kerala -- Planning and Implementation and monitoring , Impact and issues of BRGF